May 3, 2009

Complete Results

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Senior Christa Plummer added another conference title to her resume and both 4x800 meter relay squads ran exciting races on the first day of the 2009 Atlantic 10 Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Charlotte. Competition was delayed two hours on Saturday due to rain in the Charlotte area.

Plummer ran 36:13.78 in topping the field of 17 runners, running an ECAC time once again. She outlasted the second place runner - Richmond's Katrina Spratford - by 32 seconds.

The men's 4x800 meter relay placed second in a thrilling race, just .34 second behind Saint Joseph's. The rookie-filled team of Sean Mallon, David Laratta and Terence McPeak along with senior Korey Edwards ran a 7:28.44, which bested the previous conference record and is 20 seconds better than the IC4A standard.

On the women's side, Kellilyn Fierras, Caitlin Storbeck, Courtney McKnight and Meaghan Hobson combined for an 8:57.44 in the 4x800 meter relay for fourth place. The fast race saw 10 of the 12 competing squads run under the ECAC standard of 9:16.24.

Also running was rookie Samantha Gallagher, who placed sixth out of 18 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Gallagher clocked an 11:03.11, within 20 seconds of Keara Thomas of Charlotte, who won the event.

Jalessa Graham and Kyla Jones also posted strong performances on Saturday as they both qualified for Sunday's 100 meter dash final. Graham finished sixth with a 12.40 and Jones eighth with 12.49.

Steven Rendall will also be competing in the finals tomorrow as he placed third in the 110 meter hurdle preliminary with a 14.41. He qualified for the IC4A with that mark as well.

The Explorers return for the second and final day of the championships on Sunday. See www.atlantic10.org for complete schedule information.